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MOTORIST'S ANGER AT `BARMY' ROAD LAWS
A MOTORIST has hit out at "barmy" road laws after being convicted of jumping a red light to make way for an ambulance on its way to an emergency.
Father-of-five Mark Freeman, 36, felt he had no alternative but to edge across the line at a busy junction to allow the vehicle a clear route through.
After being hit by a fixed penalty fine, Mr Freeman took the matter to court and pleaded not guilty on two separate occasions.
But last week he was convinced to admit the offence after being advised it would be almost impossible for him to win his case and could end up facing huge legal fees.
Mr Freeman said: "I think there should be a change in the law - I believe moving was the only course of action I had and I put it to the court that there could have been someone seriously ill or dying at the time. Not allowing the vehicle to pass would have resulted in a delay - I think the law is barmy."
Mr Freeman, of Lakeen Road, Intake, was waiting at lights at the junction of Balby Road and Sandford Road, Balby, when he made the illegal manoeuvre.
Mr Freeman, who represented himself in court, said: "I was told there was no chance of winning a case after photographic evidence had been provided of me passing though a red light.
"I was advised to plead guilty and told my defence would be taken into account during sentence."
Last Wednesday (July 6), Mr Freeman, a railway maintenance engineer, was fined 60, ordered to pay 35 court costs and had three penalty points slapped on his licence after admitting driving through a red light on November 3 of last year.
A spokesman for the Department of Transport, who pockets fines from road offences, said: "The Highway Code states that a vehicle should get out of the way of emergency vehicles, but not in a way that would endanger other road users.
"Passing through a red light is illegal and I am not aware of any defence for it."
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Friday 25 May 2012
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